Key carrier



Dec. 23, 1947. s, STANTON 2,433,245

KEY CARRIER Filed Sept. 27, 1943 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 KEY CARRIER Samuel John Stanton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Patents Promotions Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 27, 1943, Serial No. 503,976

6 Claims. (01. 70-457) This invention generally falls into the class of key carriers. More specifically, it is an improvement for continuously constituted key carriers, or carriers consisting of a chain or links linked continuously as a closed carrier for a plurality of keys.

One novelty of this invention is a carrier uniquely constituted to make possible segregation of one or more keys from the other keys on the carrier.

Another novelty of it is a cross connection or looping element combining or converting in a simple way the ordinary key chain carrier into key segregating loops.

The segregation of keys in practice means, of course, separating the key or keys used most often from those used less often, which in turn means considerable comfort of mind, a time saver and a practical convenience-a practical convenience especially when ones vestibule is dark or ones arms are loaded with packages, or when one fumbles over a dash board in a dark automobile.

The disclosures herewith show what may be considered as three general types of key carrier with segregation features. One may be described as the link type,.Figs. 1,2, 3 and 4, where the segregating loops are effected by means of an integrated cross piece. The other, Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, may be referred to as the one in which the segregating loops, are effected by an annular element.

The descriptions following, together with the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification, are more detailed disclosures of this invention.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of my key carrier in its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary view of a carrier including one type of a cross link or looping element.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a key chain carrier disclosing another type of cross piece.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing more fully the cross link in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a second type of my key carrier.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the annular looping element shown in connection with my type 2,

Fig. 5, key chain carrier.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a carrier showing a modification of the annular looping element.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of this type of looping element.

Fig. 9 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a key chain carrier disclosing a combination of the novelty seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the looping element integrated in Fig. 9.

In the figures, like numbers referring to like parts, numeral I0, Fig. 1, points to the commonly known ball and strand key chain as a whole. Nos. II and I2 indicate one of the links, part of which II is spherical and part of which I2 is in the form of a strand. No. I3 is the cross piece of the link serving as the looping element and is shown in this particular disclosure embodied in the strand I2 at the point I4.

The embodiment at this point may be by fusion of the cross piece I3 with the strand I2, or I2 and I3 may be formed as one pieceor in any other Way known to artisans for the combination of such parts into a sort of H-element, wherein I3 corresponds to the horizontal bar of the H.

No. I5 simply represents the heads, enlarged portions, of the strands l2 articulating within apertures of the periphery or wall of the hollow sphere II, an articulating device in the well known chain which may be adapted to the present novelty.

No. I6 is the fastener or clasp commonly used in this general type of key chain, connecting the two ends of a chain to form the continuous carrier.

It will'be noted that the looping or segregating element in this form of key chain carrier is effected by a permanent integration of the cross piece I3 with the strand at I4. For the concomitant device to admit the most used key or keys into one of the loops and the other keys into the other loop, I have contrived a separate fastener for each loop. Key l8. as will be seen, is admitted through the opening closed by one of the fasteners I6. Keys I! are admitted through the opening closed by the other fasteners I 6. Key I8 is thus segregated from keys II. This contrivance makes it easy to separate out easily in the dark or under other circumstances demanding quick discovery of the most desired key on the key chain.

In Fig. 4, No. I9 shows in cross section an enlarged view of a sphere in the type of link used herein. Here the cross piece I3a is not integrated with the strand I2a, but is contrived to articulate within the sphere I9, the same as strand I2, Fig. 2, articulates within sphere I I.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the annular cross piece 20 as the combining or looping element, the counterpart of I3 in Figs. 1 and 2. This looping element 20 constricts the endless chain Illa within it while the corresponding looping element [3, Figs. 1 and 2, constricts the chain as a cross strand between the strands l2.

In Figs. 7 and 8, 200 is a figure-8 cross piece. In this cross piece one of the loops of the figure-8 receives the key chain extending one way, and the other receives the chain continuing the other Way, while in the Fig. 6 the cross piece 20 receives and constricts within the one annular opening the chain extending both ways. With eitherone of these looping elements, Fig. 6 or Fig. 8, I require only one clasp for the key carrier, the preferred key being held on one side of the looping or common element, the other keys being held on'th'e opposite side of it. i

In Figs. 9 and 10, No. 2| is a looping element consisting of an annular part '24 and a stem 7 part 23, the stem part extending from the annular part. In this device, the stem part 23 is integrated with a link or a strand in the chain extending in its annular course one way as at 14, while the annular part of said device is free to receive the chain extending in its annular course the other way as at 2d in Fig. 10. Numeral 22 shows the integration of the stem 23 with a'strand like I2 at a point like M in Fig. 2, numbered 22 in Fig. 10.

The invention is susceptible, of course, to various changes and modifications. The illustrations and the descriptive matter herein are presented, not in limitation, but merely s a suggestion of the novelty ofiered by the inventor to the commercial world, the intention being to reserve all rights that come within the scope and purview of the disclosures and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a chain linked continuously as a closed carrier for a plurality of keys, having means to admit keys peripherally, an element, integrated with said chain,-constricting said continuously linked chain generally into loops extending obversely from said element, each such loop, tapering generally towards-said element, adapted to receive keys thereon, said constricting element preventing sliding of keys from one loop to another.

2. In combination with a chain link-ed continuously as a closed carrier for a plurality of keys, having a fastener to admit keys peripherally, an element constricting said continuously linked chain generally into loops extending obversely from said element, each such loop, tapering generally towards said element, adapted to receive keys thereon, said constricting element comprising a ring with a stem thereon, said stem being integrated with said chain, said chain threaded through said ring, the terminals thereof clasped within said fastener.

3. In combination with a chain linked conment comprisinga ring with a stem integrated therewith, said stem integrated with said chain at one point holding said ring as a channel through which oppositely said chain is trained, said ring and stem element, thus dividing said chain into key carrm'ng loops, preventing sliding of keys from one loop to another.

5. A chain, associated with an element engaging the ends of said chain and another element, separately included and fixedly associated with reference to said chain having a passage through which said chain is trained parallelly with reference to said clasp element, dividing said engaged chain into loops from its said fixedly associated position.

6. A continuously constituted flexible key carrier, constricted into loops, in combination with a member having a constricting passage, the flexible member at one spot integrated with the member having a constricting passage, oppositely training the flexible member through said constricting passage, the part training and the integrated part'of the flexible member being parallel to each other.

SAMUEL JOHN STANTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,423,280 Urich July 18, 1922 1,626,334 Falk Apr. '26, 1927 2,111,493 Portner Mar. '15, 1938 

